If Beale Street Could Talk

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Discuss the significance of Black art to the characters.

• How does Fonny’s practice of art allow him to survive? (topic sentence)
• Identify one example in the novel where Fonny expresses the practice of his art as essential to his survival.
• In which ways does Fonny’s love of his art connect with the mission of The Black Arts Movement?

2. Consider the different kinds of music that appear in the novel and what they each could represent.

• Which types of music are referenced within the novel? (topic sentence)
• Select one reference to music from the novel and analyze its role regarding the scene’s characterization and/or setting.
• How does this music contribute to the theme of African American Music as a Representation of African American Culture and Identity?

3.